As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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We are going on an anniversay cruise for our 50th!
Lots of family members and friends!
Should be an amazing time!
Lots of planning going on..as you might well imagine!
Any hints to make it special?
We looked into vow renewal..a bit too expensive
Hope to have a family picture taken on the stairway! so far this is the only "must do" family thing..
The kids ages range from 11 months to 23 yrs..the young ones have worn out several cruise DVDs (we've been in the planning stages for over two years..
Doing the 4 night Wonder cruise mid-October.
This will be the first cruise for many of the family members...
eta:We have the wonderful Passporter Cruise edition..(a bit dog eared at this point!)
Anticipation is running high here!
Just thought I'd share and see if anyone else has planned a big event like this.
Beth
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No real advice, just make sure that the cast members (especially your dinner servers) know it's your anniversary! They will go above and beyond to make it special!
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We don't know if it will be offered for 2009 sailings but I hope so because it was a great addition to our anniversary.
With a group cruise, it's fun to coordinate a few photo opportunities. Plan on having a family shot done during the Lifestyle picture sessions - maybe have everyone wear something similar like white tops / khaki bottoms. Wear matching / coordinating Disney shirts and have a group photo taken when you get off the ship in Castaway Cay (the background is the stern of the ship).
Have lots of fun!
__________________
Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
Thanks for the great ideas!!
the 'kids' want to do a formal type photo...on the steps..
The khaki idea is wonderful!
Even the small ones will have those.
We have chosen early seating due to the little ones ages..and I know we will probably have a couple tables. The kids are all pretty well behaved,and have already helped to write some rules (well..more like guidelines actually)-
Thought if they had some input into the writing if these they may be happier.
* Like no running in the dining room..Please and thank you to severs..ALWAYS!
Pick up your stuff..No hitting of sisters/brothers/cousins/friends.
Be polite in the kids clubs..*
These are a few of what they have written..
I was actually surprised at how many things they wanted included.
They plan to spend a lot of time in the kids areas-they will however be split up due to age.
With everything they have talked about and all the stuff they want to try..I know a 4 night cruise will just be too short!
I do hope DCL and all the other guests don't have too many problems with the crowd. Suppose they are used to it.
We did a cruise a few years ago where a large family group disturbed the whole dining room and the kids just ran wild everywhere. Part of the reason for the guide line writing.
Oh, Beth, the crowd shouldn't be a problem at all! On our last cruise, we were at the early seating with a group of 6, Mom, Dad, 2 little ones, grandma and step-grandpa. They were part of a larger group of 43! First off, the little ones were angels, very well behaved and friendly. Second of all, we ended up at some point talking to nearly everyone in the group, even those not at our table! Third, each table is seated individually (tables are generally for 8, so not all 43 were at the same table! ) so for the servers it is just a table by table thing.
It sounds like you are getting well prepared for your trip!